I am going to be spending a fair amount of time in Ottawa in the next few months and will be away from Silvia and Rocky - I need to get my expresso fix still however. So far I tried a little place that claimed to be so Italian then dropped this pod type thing into an automatic machine and spat out what has to be the worst tasting espresso I have ever had.

The only place that has had a positive review is the Ottawa Bagelshop & Deli. That's a few klicks west on Wellington. Clark know's what he's doing. Check out other threads on the Eastern Canada forum about this shop.

Well Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli is a fair way from where I am based so I decided to give The Roasted Cherry a shot since it is only a couple of blocks away. Oh dear.. Some people indicated a while back that this was ok - must have been some changes since then. The PBTC took my order for a latte with a double shot and proceeded to dose some coffee that was already ground (some time this week I think) into the PF. She started levelling it off and I thought ooh some attention to detail here.. is she going to tamp? No! In went the pressurized PF into the machine and click went the button. Some steaming later and out comes the most insipid latte I have tasted in a long time (close to the previously mentioned espresso). It's sat by my laptop as I type and I don't think I can finish it in fact. The only hint of coffee is a chemically burnt taste that may once have had a remote connection to coffee. An experience not to be repeated. I am still a newbie but I think Silvia at home has spoilt me - there was a time when I might have drunk this rubbish but not now.

It was on the corner of O'Connor and Slater. It's a youth based co-op - previous comments were that it depended a lot on who was serving at the time but with a pressurized PF and a machine which appeared to automatically time the shot I am not so sure there was much reliance on the operator in the equation.

Btw - on a separate note I am still waiting to try the new Lettieri in the TD Centre food court in TO - they have a nice shiny new La Marzocco machine. Anyone been there yet?

proceeded to dose some coffee that was already ground (some time this week I think) into the PF. She started levelling it off and I thought ooh some attention to detail here.. is she going to tamp? No!

This is pretty much the way it's going to be anywhere you go in Ottawa. At least she dosed it properly?

Don't diss Ottawa - there are some great places to go for a good espresso. Skip your Starbucks and other pseudo-espresso bars and go where they make the real thing:- Giovanni's Snack Bar on Booth St - Cafe Mio on Richmond- Francesco's on Winona off Richmond

Try the Cafe Express in the 4 towers next to blair road (Address is 1440 Blair place I believe). The guy has some very expensive setup and knows what he is doing, just not the freshest bean since there not roasted on site or locally but a lot better then what yuo get from most stores. And yes there is crema in his espresso, so it's really better than any other stores I've been to in Ottawa, just wish he would get some greens and roast them himself some time to show him the difference.

I can totally vouch for Clark's cappuccinos at the Bagelshop if you're looking for something special.

If you're downtown, I've seen shiny microfoam come out of Planet Coffee in the market. Dip a molasses cookies into your drink, and... christ, it's enough to put a big smile on my face for the rest of the morning. They've got beautiful chairs, beautiful employees, and oftentimes beautiful music. What's not to like?

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